The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent out a survey as part of a fund-raising effort that ostensibly also serves to aid in setting the future direction of the party.

One question asks, “Which Republican Presidential Candidate would you support in the 2008 Primary?”. While the survey has undeclared Republicans such as Fred Thompson, Newt Gingrich and Chuck Hagel listed as possible choices, current candidate Ron Paul is missing from the list.

You can view a scan of the question at Tedium who wonders:

This seems disingenuous when the most vocal voice of caution in the GOP is specifically not listed as a candidate. It should be noted that this survey also acts as a major fund rasing [sic] push. It is possible that the GOP is less concerned with party satisfaction, and more concerned with lining the party coffers?

Actually, I think that’s a rather silly question. Surveys are part of just about every fund-raising letter sent out. Besides various GOP organizations, the Heritage Foundation, Freedom Alliance and so on, I’ve received survey’s from a host of single issue PACs and 527s like English First, the NRA, the GOA and the Club for Growth. Does anyone really think that they really look at the survey results?

Call me cynical but I believe that surveys are a money-making scam: make the yokels feel like they are part of the action and they’ll open their wallets. I give to single issue organizations like those listed above because that issue is my issue — how they go about making it happen is up to them, I’m just glad someone is fighting for my side.

Interestingly, if you take a look at the online version of the survey you’ll see that Paul has been listed as choice for both president and vice-president. Was it changed because Ron Paul’s absence was noted by Tedium and subsequently Dugg this weekend, thereby raising a flag with the vocal, web-savvy component of the public?

I don’t think so. Take a look at the graph displayed after I cast my vote:

Ron Paul was running a clear second a week ago, which probably wouldn’t have happened if his name wasn’t on the list.

It’s also interesting that Fred Thompson is running a clear first, albeit in a spectacularly unscientific online poll.

I have my doubts about whether Rudy Giuliani or John McCain would ever accept candidacy for vice president. These are men used to the spotlight and taking second best isn’t in their nature.

Most of the rest don’t really matter.

But wouldn’t a Fred Thompson/Ron Paul ticket make for a winning combination?